Emergency fuel-supply mechanism



'Eeb 17, 1925.

D. T. JOHNSON EMERGENCY FUEL SUPLY MECHANISM Filed Nov. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet I A IN/ENTOR. pzh] ZTJ@ Saiz Feb, l 7, V1925.

D. T. JOHNSON EMERGENCY FUEL SUPPLY MECHANISM 5, 1923 2 SheecS-Shee' 2 Filed Nov.

Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

STATES DAVID T. JOHNSON, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

EMERGENCY FUEL-SUPPLY MECHANISM.

Application filed November 3, 1923. Serial No. 4672,651.

Toall whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, DAvIn T. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort iVayne, in the county of Allen Vand State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Emergency Fuel- Supply Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to emergency tanks and valves therefor, and it contemplates the provision of a device that y is used in connection with the usual gasoline tank for motor vehicles and the like and said supply tank and valve are so actuahle that the liability of the driver of the vehicle being caught a distance from a s'upply of fuel is effectually precluded.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an auxiliary tank that is so constructed and arranged that the driver of the vehicle will be assured of a supply of fuel even though the main tank runs dry.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an emergency supply tank that is so constructed and arranged that operation 'of the vehicle without the auxiliary tank supplied with fuel is practically im- Apossible; the elements of my improvements eing so positioned that filling of the main tank makes it practically impossible to fail to lillthe auxiliary tank.

Other objects and characteristic features of this invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim, when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of-this specification, in Which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my novel vacuum supply means.

Figure Q is a vertical sectional view of the cut-off valve of my device. A

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 but showing the valve plug thrown to another position. Y

Figure 5 is a modified construction of gravity feed supply tank and showing my modified construction in perspective.

Figure 6 is a view of the modified construction taken in the plane indicated by the line G-G of Figure a.

Figure 7' is a similar view to Figure 6 but taken in the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in Figures l to 4, inclusive and modified elements are likewise indicated by similar numerals of Figures 5 to 7, inclusive.

Before entering into a detailed description of the invention, I would state that reference will first be had to` the preferred construrtion in which I illustrate a vacuum feed for the main and auxiliary tanks.

The main supply or fuel tank is designated by M, while the emergency tank is designated by E and the vacuum tank by V. 'lhe valve proper of my novel preferred construct-ion is shown at A, and said valve is provided With the outlets 1, 2, 3 and 4; the outlet 1 communicating with the vacuum tank V by means of the conduit 5, the outlet 2, communicating with the emergency tank E by means of the conduit T, the outlet 3 communicating with the carbureter 11 by means of the conduit G, and the outlet 4 communicating with the emergency tank E by means of the conduit 8. rl`he vacuum tank V and main tank M are in direct communication with each other by means of' the conduit 9, as clearly as shown in Figure 1.

The intake manifold of the motor is indicated by 12 and the conduit 10 connects the manifold with the vacuum tank V.

Arranged in the valve A is a plug 13 having the passages 14, 15 and the check valve 1G that leads to or controls the flow to the conduit T. At its upper end the plug 13 is provided with the crank arm 17 that is secured to the rod 18 that is placed and extends to within cach reach of the operator of the vehicle and preferably on the dash board of the vehicle. It will be apparent that the valve has four outlets while the plug has but three and hence the cutting out of one of the outlets is assured irrespective of the direction of operation of the plug.

We will assume that the emergency tank lil is empty and the main tank M is fully supplied with fuel, just as soon as the engine turns over, the vacuum system V will begin to fill up. turned off the fuel will flow through the check valve 1G into the emergency tank E where it will be trapped and prevented by the valve from flowing back through thc valve and escape from the emergency tank E. Then the level of the fuel in the einen gency tank reaches that of t-he vacuum sys- Now when the carburetor is lll) tem, the iow will be cut off, and even though the full supply of fuel were exhausted fromthe tanks V and M, that remaining would not flow from the emergency tank vpast the valve 13. Manifestly many drivers of motor vehicles have found themselves remote from a source of fuel supply, but when a vehicle is equipped with my novel improvements and the necessity for a small quantity of fuel to permit the vehicle to reach a fuel supply arises, it is simply necessary to move lever 17 a 1/4 turn clockwise t0, close outlet 1. M'anifestly there will be a blind or no opening at outlet a (under normal conditions but when the lever 1T is turned as above indicated, the outlet 4 is opened to the emergency tank E through outlet In other words, Aoutlets 2, and 4: will be opened with outlet 1 closed. This establishes communication between the carburetor 11 and the emergency tank l. After replenishing the supply of fuel at a service station in tank M, said supply cannot be used until lever 17 is reversed 1,6: turn, this opens outlet 1 and closes outlet 4 but still leaves 2 and 3 open. Should the lever 17 not be returned@ to the first position flow from the tank M to carburetor 11 would be im ossible and as soon as the supply of tank ifi were exhausted the motor would stop operation. When the valve is set so that fuel Hows to carburetor 11 from tank M, said fuel will naturally flow through tank V and check 16 to emergency E when automatic filling of said tank is accomplished as above set forth. A vent V for apparent reasons is employed in the tank E.

The construct-ion above set forth is used on a vacuum system. However, a gravity flow system such as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 may be employed and now referring to said figures M and E are the main tank and emergency tank respectively. The valve proper A. having outlets 1', .2', 3 and 4 while conduit 5 connects to outlet l and also to tank M. The conduit 6 connects carburetor 11 to valve A at outlet 3, while conduit 7 connectsto emergency tank E also. to valve A at outlet 2. rll`he latter outlet is provided with a check valve 16'. Outlet 4c connects by means of the conduit 8' with tank E as shown.

In the modified construction no direct connection from the tank t-o the manifold 12 is required.

A plug 13" is provided with the passages 14 and 15,the latter of which extends into the passage 14;" similar to the passagesldt and 15 of the preferred construction. Like the preferred embodiment the passage 15 is not continuous and hence produces a blind on one Side. The tank E in the modified construction is provided with a vent V and said tank extendsI slightlyaboveand below the main tank. rlhis is necessary to prevent overflowing of E. Naturally if for any reason the level of the tank E should go to the top the vent V will take care of such overow.

In the preferred construction I show the vertically arranged plug 13 that may be turned by pulling or pushing the rod 18, at the .drivers seat| whereas in thel modified form I show a horizontally positioned plug also actuablc at the drivers seat but turned by means ofthe lever 18. Both valves are identical in construction with the exception that one has a slightly diderent configuration of passa e. 15 and 15. Operation of the valve in figures 5, 6 and 7 Vis similar to that of Figures 1, 2, 3 and Ll.

The valve is extremely simple in construction and positive in operation and comprises no delicate elements such as are lia-ble to become inoperative after a short period ot' use.

I-Iaving describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure byIietters Patent isz- In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a main supply tank, a conduit extending from the supply tank, a vacuum tank communicating with the conduit, a second conduit secured to the lower end of the vacuum tank, a third conduit secured to the upper end of the vacuugn tank i and communicating with the manifold of an internal combustion engine, a control valve secured tothe second conduit,a short conduit secured to the control valve and to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, an auxiliary tank arrangedadjacent the vacuum tank, conduitssecured to the lower end ofthe vacuum tank and to the control valve; said yalve having a casing provided lwith apertures that communicate with the conduits, a check lvalve `arranged in the casing and adapted to control the passage to one of the auxiliary tank conduits and a stem having an aperture so constructed and arranged that passage of fluid through the conduits may be alternately established and interrupted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handl in presence of two subscribimg` witnesses.

n DAVID T. JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

JosEPHJ. JUNE, Jr.,

W'. I-I. Banssnn.

bil 

